THE meer's loyalty. 259 



on the very scene of their former predatory 

 forays. 



Such are my observations on Sindh, a most 

 uninviting country in appearance and climate, 

 but one that promises advantageous returns 

 for tlie employment of European capital and 

 European enterprise. 



During the latter months of my stay at 

 Khyrpoor, I was too unwell to attend Meer Ali 

 Moorad in his hunting excursionSj and His 

 Highness' hopes of obtaining justice appeared 

 to grow fainter after the arrival of each mail 

 without any order for the restoration of his ter- 

 ritory, although private letters of a favourable 

 nature occasionally reached us. The Meer's 

 temperament is, however, so sanguine that but 

 little sufficed to raise his spirits. He appeared 

 to take great interest in the progress of the 

 campaign, then at its height in Central India, 

 and always requested me to read the papers to 

 him. His Highness never for one moment waver- 

 ed in his faith and loyalty, whether the accounts 

 were favourable or otherwise ; and on my read- 

 ing the recital of massacres of women and chil- 

 dren, he always exj^ressed the utmost horror at 

 such atrocities, and more than once observed 



17* 



